Originally posted: 08/19/2019

The story of Rahab, the harlot, is a story that moves from fear to faith in God’s offer of deliverance and protection.

All of Jericho had heard about the God of Israel.

…she came up to them on the roof, ⁹ and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. ¹⁰ For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. ¹¹ When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you;” (2:8-11).

All of Jericho had heard about the God of Israel, and even melted in fear, but only one moved from fear to faith. The one person in all of Jericho who would receive so great a salvation was a prostitute.

Truth be told, Rahab was in no greater need of saving than the rest of Jericho, for no matter their station in life or morality, they all faced death. God’s story in the Old Testament is no different than in the New. We see a people lost in sin, separated from holy God and without hope unless God intervenes.

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23).

…For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23).

What made the difference for Rahab? She understood and acknowledged her own condition. She understood and acknowledged God’s holiness, might and power. She expressed her need for salvation.

“…for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath,” (2:11).

“…please swear to me by the Lord… that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household,” (2:12).

His Provision in Scarlet was offered and Rahab accepted. Believing in the promise and demonstrating her faith she would be saved, she hung the scarlet cord in her window.

… and she tied the scarlet cord in the window, (2:21).

Consider His Provision in Scarlet

• His Provision in Scarlet is extended in kindness
  • “Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household,” (2:12).

• His Provision in Scarlet is extended in truth
  • “…and give me a pledge of truth,” (2:12).

• His Provision in Scarlet delivers from death
  • “…and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death,” (2:13).

• His Provision in Scarlet is the only hope for life
  • The men said to her, “We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, ¹⁸ unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window…” (2:17-18).

• Mercy is bestowed only to those who come into His Provision in Scarlet
  • “…and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household,” (2:18).

How do we respond to His Provision in Scarlet?

As we consider Him in the Old Testament, our faith in His Holy Scriptures and His Provision in Scarlet by the blood of Jesus Christ will be strengthened, as we see Him throughout every page.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; ¹² and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:11-14).

•  His Provision in Scarlet is extended in kindness
  • “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).

• His Provision in Scarlet is extended in truth
  • Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” (John 14:6).

• His Provision in Scarlet delivers from death
  • For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Romans 6:23).

• His Provision in Scarlet is the only hope for life
  • Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:3-4).

• Mercy is bestowed only to those who come into His Provision in Scarlet
  • And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved, (Acts 4:12).

It is not enough to know truth. In Rahab we see the actions of saving faith.

• Rahab declared with her mouth the truth about God.
  • “…for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath, (2:11).

• Rahab believed in the promised of His Provision in Scarlet and responded in faith.
  • … and she tied the scarlet cord in the window, (2:21).

Today, let us examine our own lives for the evidence of saving faith.

…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰ for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; ¹³ for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved,” (Romans 10:9-13).

“Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Our station in life, our morality, even our good works will not save us. Only God can offer so great a salvation. We must accept His offer by faith, call on His Name and receive His Provision in Scarlet by the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Today, move from fear to faith. Call on the Name of the Lord Jesus; receive His Provision in Scarlet, His blood shed on the cross for your sins, and you will be saved!

Let’s Grow Together!